Modification of the over cover and cockpit cover

Since taking delivery of a new over cover and a new cockpit cover from R&J Sails in 2013, a number of the modifications made to Tra Bhui have compromised the fit and effectiveness of each cover.

Despite having fallen heir to a hand operated sewing machine, after discussion with Dick Hannaford at R&J Sails I decided that the best option would be to measure what changes were required and send the covers along with sketches and photos back to R&J Sails and ask Dick to make the required alterations rather than try and make the changes myself.

The Brief given to R&J Sails was:-

Alterations required 

Over cover 

The over cover fits the original boat very well, however it needs to be altered to accommodate the outboard and also a boarding ladder that I have fitted.

• The outboard modification should I hope be fairly straightforward. The sizes are set out on the attached sketch. The outboard sticks up 400 mm above the gunwales. It is 350 mm wide. 
• The boarding ladder is a stainless steel ladder that folds up against the outside edge of the gunwale (Port side). It is 300 mm wide and is positioned 920 mm from the top corner of the gunwale. Could you make a cut out in the cover to accommodate this while maintaining the edge chord (possibly making the chord disconnect able via a hook and eye)?. I have shown the position of the ladder on the sketch and I have attached  some photos - Brief has since been modified to allow option of fitting eyelet to top of cover to allow boarding ladder to be tied up when cover fitted. This would save cutting the cover back

Cockpit Cover

Since the original cover was made, I have added a tabernacle at the bottom of the mast and increased the height of the instrument cluster at the rear of the centre board housing.

The tabernacle needs to be accommodated simply by an enlarged mast opening. Sizes are given on the attached sketch. I have related everything to the centre line of the Samson Post as this is already catered for by the cover.

The instrument cluster requires an bit of a box shape to be inserted into the cover in a similar manner to the way the outboard is accommodated in the over cover. Again I have shown the required dimensions on the attached sketch.

• Mast opening to be enlarged to accommodate a 250mm x 150mm tabernacle. The mast in it's down position is just over 280mm above the cover so an up stand of approx 200 mm would be ideal. There are a number of cleats on the tabernacle so a "baggy" cut would allow these to be accommodated - see pictures.
• Box to be inserted into cover to accommodate enlarged instrument cluster - see sketch and pictures

I hope the above along with attached sketch and the additional pictures which will follow shortly makes the scope of the alterations clear. If you need any further information, please let me know.

Instrument Consul - sits well above cockpit seat level.

Boarding Ladder - stops over cover fitting properly

Outboard - Over cover does not accommodate this - possibly due to increase in size of outboards over the years

Cockpit cover - originally made to fit mast now needs to fit Tabernacle

The covers are due back in December - this post will be updated to show the altered covers when they are returned

Trailer Brakes

Having stuck another 4500 miles on to the trailers mileage so far in 2015 and with a similar mileage planned for 2016 and with Tra Bhui temporarily off her trailer to allow other works to be carried out November proved to be an opportune month to service the bearings and brakes on the trailer.

Tra Bhui's trailer originates from the MOD and is extremely well engineered, but even well engineered equipment needs some maintenance and so every year I strip the bearings and brakes, inspect, clean, re lubricate and re assemble them. This is a fairly simple process and is something that every boat owner should consider doing:-

• After loosening the wheel nuts the trailer was jacked up and supported on the jack and an axel stand.
• Once clear of the ground the wheel was removed
• With the wheel removed there was easy access to the brake adjusters and the grease cap on the end of the axel
• Once the brakes shoes had been slackened off - something that needs to be done to allow the brake drum to be removed - the grease cap at the end of the axel was removed and the castellated hub nut slackened.
• Once the castellated nut was removed the thrust washer and tapered roller bearing could also be removed, allowing the brake drum to be removed.
• Before inspecting the brakes and mechanism, any remaining grease was removed from the stub axel as it was being replaced and by removing it it lessened the risk of contaminating the brake shoes or the internal surface of the brake drum.
• Despite the mileage of recent years the brake shoes showed little wear. My policy of never submersing the brakes when launching was certainly paying off as the drums had little external rust (original paint still intact) and the mechanism and shoes inside were in an excellent condition.
• After brushing some brake dust out of the drums the back plates were cleaned and the movement of the shoes checked to ensure everything was working as it should. 
• Re assembly was simply a reverse of the dis assembly procedure. The castellated nut was tightened to ensure no play in the bearings while the wheel was still free to turn, before the brakes were re adjusted.
• Having cleaned the bearings and bearing seats and cavities new water proof grease was injected into the assembly using the grease nipple on the drum.

With wheel removed and trailer supported on jack and axel stand

With the drum removed it was apparent that the shoes and brake mechanism were still in very good condition

Brake adjuster - 13 mm hex on the outside of the back plate allows simple adjustment with a spanner